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Armed bandits rob local exporter near Police station guyana-times.com

Issue No. 2847

Thursday, May 5, 2016

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Ogle Airport to be renamed despite objections by private P16 operators

Page 6

AML/CFT Bill passed in Parliament

Page 3

– Govt ignores Opposition’s “rushing” concerns

Recalled infant milk still on shelves of local supermarkets

Edghill sent to Privileges Committee over excessive Govt pay P15 hike figures

Page 6

Women farmers in Hague: trail blazers in a man’s world

$10.5M aircraft parking ramp commissioned at Ogle Airport

Page 11

P10

Education sector CoI

Teachers P14 oppose limiting students’ subjects at CXC D’Urban Park development

Women farmers in Hague: Rajkumarie Jeewan along with Bashantee Persaud striking a pose in front of a tractor parked

Crime rate eroding investors’ confidence – PSC Page 12

... requests meeting with President

Stabroek Market restoration

City Hall pushes for completion of vendor’s relocation site in 24 hours Page 6

– PPP condemns action by Govt

Stands to be dismantled P9 after Independence celebrations – to be distributed to community grounds

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3 AML/CFT Bill passed in Parliament news

thursDAY, may 5, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, May 5 – 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, May 6 – 14:30h-16:00h.

– Govt ignores Opposition’s “rushing” concerns

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The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, May 5 – 15:30h-17:00h and Friday, May 6 – 16:20h-17:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Light to heavy rain showers can be expected in the morning, while light rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected in the afternoon. Light cloud cover and thundery showers can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 1.78 metres per second and 4.02 metres per second.

High Tide: 03:15h and 15:42h reaching maximum heights of 2.82 metres and 2.79 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:14h and 21:32h reaching minimum heights of 0.37 metres and 0.42 metre respectively.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

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fter nearly two hours of exchanges in the National Assembly, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition on Wednesday evening rejected the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Opposition’s request to “reason” and went ahead to pass the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill 2016.

The passage of the Bill came in light of a motion put forward by Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira to have the piece of legislation reviewed by a Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) before passage.

However, Government used its parliamentary one-seat majority to turn down the motion, thus, allowing the Bill to be read for the second and third time before being passed as printed.

The Bill contained 11 clauses to amend various sections of the AML/CFT (Amendment) Act 2016. The Opposition had proposed several changes to the clauses but these were shut down by the Coalition Administration.

However, the amendments were not made without heated exchanges between the two sides of the House.

In defending the Bill after the House went into the Committee of Supply, following the first reading of the Amendment Bill, Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Basil Williams pointed out that his Administration inherited a situation of great reticence to fight against money launderers and an even greater reluctance to counter the financing of terrorism.

“Mr Speaker, the PPP/C

The National Assembly on Wednesday held the 36th sitting of the 11th Parliament

Government had continually failed to remedy the many deficiencies in the Action Plan it had agreed to with both the CFATF (Caribbean Financial Action Task Force) and the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) in or around 2011 and 2014 respectively,” he stated.

According to Williams, the Administration in its nearly one year in office has managed to reduce the number of unimplemented FATF recommendations to one and this too was got rid of with the passage of the Bill on Wednesday. He noted that Guyana can now apply to exit the FATF process.

However, the situation is not the same with regard to the CFATF, the Legal Affairs Minister said. He explained that Government found a plethora of recommendations that PPP/C Government failed to implement since July 2011, while adding that Guyana was rated Compliant and Largely Compliant in only 6 of the 40 + 9 Recommendations on which it was assessed. further Williams went on to say that the Administration has been engaging CFATF since May last year and was reminded in January that one Core and five Key Recommendations were still outstanding. These recommendations, the AG added, were addressed in the

passed legislation last June while the remaining three were included in this most recent Bill that was passed.

“So let this be the last time we hear about any kind of interference by the Honourable Members on the opposite side in relation to the business of the AML/CFT conducted by the APNU/AFC Government,” he posited as he reminded of the urgency to have the Bill passed in time for the May 2016 review.

However, the Opposition MPs outlined that this was the ninth time Government was rushing to have a Bill passed at all three stages in one sitting. In fact, PPP/C front bencher Anil Nandlall sought to discard the arguments put forward by Williams, pointing out that it was impossible for Guyana to meet the May deadline at this point in time.

Nandlall explained that the Bill should have been passed eight weeks ago before the parliamentary hiatus since Guyana was supposed to circulate the passed legislation to other countries for review as it was currently under a peer review.

Moreover, the former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister went on to dissect the amendments being made to the legislation, highlighting a specific clause which says, “The

Court SHALL immediately, pursuant to the application of the Director of Public Prosecutions under subsection (6), grant the freezing order (of assets).”

The Opposition MP argued that this clause interferes with the discretionary power of the judiciary.

Furthermore, he referred to another clause which gives the Minister of Legal Affairs the power to permit access to frozen funds or other assets, saying that persons would have to go to the Minister with “begging bag” for basic expenses such as medical, taxes, insurance charges, utility expenses and so soon.

“This Bill is warped! No executive officer can have that power over people’s property. This is vulgar, it is unconstitutional. No executive office must lord over people’s property,” he declared.

To this end, Nandlall pleaded with the House to have the Bill sent to a Select Committee for review, noting that it will only take one week as he knows where the mistakes are. “I have done a lot of work on this Bill and I’m asking my friends on that side to take it to a Select Committee, let us cleanse this Bill of its impurities,’” the former Legal Affairs Minister remarked.

The AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill 2016 was subsequently considered in the Committee of Supply clause by clause and passed without amendments. It was then taken to the National Assembly, where it was read for the second and third time before being passed as printed.

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Views General Editor: Michael Younge News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Arrival Day

T

oday, May 5th is “Arrival Day”, commemorating the arrival of several groups to this country, following the abolition of slavery on August 1, 1834. The agitation and petition for this day to be declared a Public Day was conducted by individuals and groups solely from the Indian-Guyanese community. When they made submissions to the Parliamentary Committee constituted to examine and make a recommendation on the issue, they uniformly recommended the day be named “Indian Arrival Day”. But when enacted, the Public Day became “Arrival Day”.

What must have been taken into consideration by the Executive was the “arrivals” following the abolition of slavery were not only from India, and there needed to be recognition of this fact, even though their descendants did not request such recognition. The genesis of “arrival” was the certainty of planters in countries such as British Guiana and Trinidad, that after Emancipation, they would face demands for higher wages that they would not be able to afford.

England had decided to abandon the mercantilist regime for its trade and opt for “free trade” where goods such as sugar could enter their markets without attracting the high duties that gave West Indian planters a great advantage. England, of course, was now more concerned that its manufactured goods from its own home factories could then enter the countries that accepted “free trade”.

Knowing it would be almost impossible to compete with sugar from those countries that still allowed slavery, the planters in the West Indies had three options – abandon their plantations, improve the efficiencies of their fields and factories and/or import cheaper labour than that which the freed slaves would insist on where there was land for them to move off the plantations if their demands for higher wages were not met.

In those territories such as Antigua and the smaller islands where there was other options for the freed slaves than returning to the plantations, the planters did not even have the Apprenticeship Scheme. In these small islands, wages of the freed slaves remained very low compared to Guiana. The planters imported some Europeans from Germany and Malta in 1835, but this scheme was not successful. In the same year, inducements were given to freed slaves from the West Indies and by 1838, some 5000 arrived from Barbados, St Kitts, Antigua, Montserrat and Nevis. There needs to be research conducted to discover when the first freed West Indians arrived in Guyana.

In 1835, Britain turned to the impoverished Portuguese island of Madeira and 429 Madeirans arrived that year starting on May 3 on the ship, the Louisa Baille. They came as “indentured labourers” which meant they had to work for a fixed number of years at a contracted labour rate. In 1838, planters explored another option, India which had been plunged into poverty after the British conquest and destruction of the cotton industry which was transferred to England. The first Indians arrived in Guyana as indentured labourers on May 5 on two ships – the Whitby and the Hesperus that had left India at different dates.

The first batches of Portuguese and Indians suffered horrific death rates and it took some years for the shipments to resume. In the meantime, the British brought individuals of African origin starting from 1841 to work on the plantations – either from slave ships they intercepted or directly from Sierra Leone. The arrival date of these immigrants also needs researching. The planters also turned to China for indentured labourers and in 1853, the ship Glentanner arrived on January 12 with 305 Chinese labourers. Over the course of the Indentureship and “free labour experience, the Indians were by far the most numerous to arrive – with 329,000, followed by the West Indians with 40,000, Portuguese 15,000, Chinese 13,000 and free Africans 13,000.

One hopes the descendants of all these “arrivals” would also commemorate “Arrival Day”.

The Senior Category contestants of the Mother and Daughter Pageant pose with First Lady Sandra Granger. The group is flanked by, from extreme left, Ingrid Fung and extreme right, Dr Sulan Fung. The First Lady in brief remarks wished the contestants well, noting that it is a good thing when women, young and old alike, can take the initiative to empower themselves

Stop the blame game, Mr President Dear Editor, During the last two Budget Debates, whenever the Opposition questioned the inaction of Government to either enforce legislation or to implement certain programmes, the mantra that emanated from the Government side of the House has always been, “You’ve been in power for 23 years and you didn’t do it.”

While that may be so, the Granger Administration cannot continue to use that as an excuse for their repeated failure. The APNU and AFC are no longer parties in Opposition – they’re the ones in Government now. They’re there, because they were able to convince the electorate that they know what needs to be done, and knows how to fix it. So instead of whining about what the PPP/C didn’t do while in office, they should just adopt the Nike slogan and “Just do it!”

Editor, once again, this mantra is being propagated by none other than the President of Guyana, His Excellency, David Granger.

Responding to questions on “The Public Interest”, Granger blamed the recent Camp Street Prison riots and the deaths of 17 inmates on the failure of the former PPP/C Administration to implement recommendations from previous inquiries into the prison system and from the Disciplined Forces Commission after the Mashramani jail break of 2002. He said, “When the present (APNU/AFC) Administration got into office, there was a stack of un-

implemented recommendations. That is what caused the crisis. If they had been implemented 10 or 15 years ago when they were made, we would not have had the crisis last March.” But is that really so?

In a recent article in the media “Aside from bed bugs, Camp St prison conditions livable”, a former Georgetown Prison Visiting Committee member disclosed that prior to the May 2015 General Election when the committee last visited the prison, the main complaints from prisoners were bug-infested mattresses.

“They are cramped a little, but it’s not a three-star hotel or home, all of that would be expected.” The former Committee member added that although prisoners never complained of anything major, they often expressed concern about the length of time they were in prison before their cases were heard by the courts.

This information would have been passed on to the prison administration by the Committee chairman.

Commenting on the March 3 prison riot, he said, “One bad herring does spoil the whole barrel. A few could have become frustrated and they wouldn’t care who it affects... The prison officers are trying their best. They were doing an excellent job.

When we were there, it was a smooth flow. The prison was in good condition.”

So what could have changed so drastically to have provoked the lawlessness that took place at the Georgetown Prison on March 3?

One thing is certain, there were no followup to the prisoners’ concerns after the Granger Administration took office.

The focus of the new APNU/ AFC coalition was the witch-hunting and prosecution of PPP/C supporters, and to reward themselves from day one, with hefty increases in salaries and benefits, much to the anger and disapproval of their own supporters.

They cared less about naming new members to statutory boards to continue the work done by the previous Administration.

It took several embarrassing letters in the press and constant pressure on the Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence before the new Adoption Board, approved

by Cabinet, finally met on December 30, 2015, more than seven months after they disbanded the old Board. And we now know that the new Georgetown Prison Visiting Committee was only appointed sometime last month, after the March 3 Georgetown Prison riot, and 11 months after the APNU/AFC took office.

The negligence of the Granger Administration in waiting so long to appoint this new Committee must have caused prisoners to feel frustrated and hopeless, and in the depths of despair, they resorted to deadly actions to bring their concerns to the attention of the authorities. This, I believe, is what caused the mayhem at the Georgetown Prison, and the tragic deaths of the 17 inmates,

not the PPP/C. The President and Minister of Public Security had enough time to implement the same recommendations that the PPP/C is accused of neglecting, yet for 10 months they have done nothing. Even now, the excuse for not implementing those recommendations the President spoke of is that they’re awaiting the report from the ongoing Commission of Inquiry into the March 3 tragedy.

Editor, there is no doubt that the APNU/AFC coalition continues to do a remarkable job at cleaning up the city. But President Granger needs to stop acting like the Mayor of Georgetown and focus more on his duties as President.

Surely the need to stop the deadly crime spree that’s rampant throughout the country should take precedence over the cleaning of drains and the relocation of vendors, but this is not reflected in the Administration’s list of priorities.

With the incompetence that has now become the hallmark of the APNU/AFC coalition, I’m afraid even a Cabinet reshuffle will prove useless to a visionless government with no plans.

Further, had the PPP/C used the 28 turbulent years of PNC rule as an excuse not to fix the infrastructure and grow the economy, Guyana would still have been the poorest country in the hemisphere after Haiti.

Sincerely, Harry Gill, MP

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Sugar: A case for a What is there to loss-leader Part 2 celebrate?

Dear Editor, This is a follow-up to my initial letter on sugar published on April 27, 2016, a case for a loss-leader. In that letter, the focus was primarily on the cost side of the sugar model. However, to fully understand the role of sugar and its relevance as a loss-leader, one must also examine the contribution on the revenue/ value side and how this plays out in the local economy.

Economic amplification, no zero-sum game

As previously stated in the article dated April 27, the US$800 input cost is the end of the cost chain, ie it is what it is, US$800 in mainly local costs.

On the other hand, the US$300 foreign currency revenue generated by the sugar industry is not the end of the earnings process, but rather the beginning of another domestic “value creating” process.

This US$300, when converted into precious imported products and materials, boosts domestic activity – amplifying itself several times over in local value added (LVA) and economic turn, employment and revenues accruing to the national treasury in the various forms of taxation.

Take for example, an as-

set imported and used primarily for domestic economic purposes. This asset pays for itself many times over before being rendered obsolete.

Let’s take a specific example of a vehicle used for taxi service. How many times over does the vehicle pay for itself, how many livelihoods are sustained?

The vehicle was 100% forex consuming; all parts are/were 100% forex consuming; gasoline, oil, tyres, etc are 100% forex consuming. Yet this taxi never earns one penny of foreign currency in its entire economic life.

Another example, consider the small non-exporting cash-crop farmer.

Foreign currency is needed to acquire chemical fertilisers, pesticides, equipment, tools and supplies. Using his/her labour and land, along with the local and imported materiel, the farmer then creates local value several fold of the value of the imported material consumed. Though these products may never be exported, however; they do become part of the national food chain needed to sustain a healthy and productive population.

In both cases mentioned, one can easily conclude, given the duties, VAT and other economic value created, the US$300 foreign currency

brought in by sugar created much more than the US$800 local input costs to produce, making the case for the lossleader model. And this does not even consider any of the auxiliary industries coming out of the basic sugarcane industry.

Sustaining the model

The bridging of the US$300 foreign currency revenues to US$800 local costs begins with duties on imports. For this reason, the more “finished” an imported item is, the higher the duty as this item creates less LVA. More basic raw materials are taxed less as they spur more LVA, employment, etc which is then captured in the VAT and the local taxing regime.

The summation of the duties, VAT and income taxes serve to bridge the gap between the US$300 revenue and the US$800 input costs. The fact it is the Government who captures the results of this economic activity leaves the Government to provide the flow-back subsidy to the sugar industry.

For this reason, nations like Guyana which need to earn foreign currency via loss-making local industries will inevitably be saddled with high duties, VAT and tax regimes on anything im-

ported or benefiting from imports. It’s the only way to sustain the model. Any nation facing this model will be forced to adopt similar measures. A recent case in point: the oil-rich nations, which for decades have been lowtax nations due to lucrative oil exports, are now toying with the idea of duties and local tax levies as crude oil has been commoditised and prices have experienced a prolonged decline. These once high-flying nations are now forced to embrace the model of other struggling developing nations exporting “loss-leader” products as a way to earn foreign currency.

Sugar, rice and other such traditional industries will remain part of the economic model and should be given due priority and importance by the sitting Government.

Modernisation and cost reduction need to be carefully calibrated to ensure local input costs are not replaced with foreign input costs even if this appears cheaper on the surface. The real value proposition for such loss-leader industries is in maximising the foreign currency earnings for the local input cost.

Sincerely, HS Gautam Naraine NY, USA

Dear Editor, May 1 has come and gone and the Guyanese workers are in a worse state than the year before.

I make this bold assertion based on the performance of this coalition Government and its treatment of workers. You will remember that this Government came in on a high note that it would create jobs and, secondly, raise the monetary and moral existence levels of the hardworking people of this country.

Well, to date, none of that has happened. Some in the apologists’ camp might be tempted to say that this is a new Government – only a year in office – so it should be given a chance to prove itself. Be that as it may, but when you look at the financial record of this Government and the way it has been doing things, you get a clear sense as to what this Government is all about and where the country is headed.

The coalition, mere months into office, raised their salaries over 50 per cent. Their emoluments, in some instances, superseding their salaries. Mark you, this is the same Government when in Opposition spoke out against the extravagance of the PPP/C Government; however, when its turn at governance came did quite the opposite. And this has been the hypocritical nature of the regime ever since.

In addition to this is the fact that it fired over 2000

Amerindian short-term employment workers and countless others, mainly Indian workers, in the public service. Then, there is the announced closure of the Wales Sugar Estate and the impending closure of the LBI Estate.

This means that hundreds would be on the breadline and hundreds more that are indirectly linked to the industry.

Coupled with this is the fact that hardworking breadwinners are attacked by violent criminals on a daily basis.

Hardworking people cannot be at peace in the comfort of their homes and enjoy the little they have, only to have it violently taken away by some criminal. Persons’ earnings even their lives evaporate before their very eyes.

What is there to celebrate on Workers’ Day 2016?

This is the burning question.

Therefore, it came as no surprise when the President decided to evade the public’s gaze and go on one of those “overseas trips” and leave his deputy to face the workers. Nagamootoo is put on a leash to do the master’s command. All the dirty work of this Administration has been placed on him, so he has no choice but to face the ire of an already demoralised and disgruntled labour force. Again I ask the question, what is there to celebrate?

Sincerely, Neil Adams

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News

Recalled infant milk Stabroek Market restoration City Hall pushes for completion of still on shelves of local supermarkets vendor’s relocation site in 24 hours

LAILAC Infant Formula on the shelf of a leading supermarket in Georgetown

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he International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) Guyana Ltd is ignoring a recall issued by the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) for LILAC Infant Milk.

IPA is the local distributor of LAILAC Infant Milk.

It insists that although the product does not comply with the GA-FDD’s substantive standards to be defined as infant milk, nor with its procedural requirements to be imported into the country, the product should be available for sale to the public.

The GA-FDD, in early February 2016, issued a recall for the product.

When Guyana Times visited several supermarkets on Wednesday, more than six weeks after the recall deadline of March 22, 2016, the product was on the shelves. The IPA has

persistently disregarded the GA-FDD’s instructions contending that LAILAC Infant Milk is a milk-based baby formula.

It was also reported that LAILAC Infant Milk is still being sold at retail and wholesale entities in and around Georgetown.

The GA-FDD issued the recall on two grounds – the product’s noncompliance with Food and Drug Regulation (12) of 1977, which prohibits distributing a product in Guyana that is not distributed in its country of origin. The IPA has admitted its LAILAC product was not sold in France, the country of origin but only in the Third World. The IPA continues to argue that the product is being distributed in France, but under a different brand.

The company said that LAILAC was a regional brand name for products

manufactured by the French Company Nutribio for the African, Caribbean and Middle Eastern markets.

The IPA also argued that the product LAILAC Milk is distributed in France under the name NUTRILAC. This publication also checked a number of retailers of infant milk in France, but none of them have LAILAC as a product on sale locally GA-FDD Director Marlon Cole was quoted in other sections of the media as saying that LAILAC was not and could not possibly be sold in France as milk.

“Our regulations clearly state that the product must be free distributed in the country of production.

That product is not sold in France. No other Caribbean country has LAILAC Milk.

It is not milk,” he was quoted as saying.

Cole has based his conclusion on a reading of the product’s label which shows that the product is labelled infant milk although in the production process vegetable oils were used to replace milk fat.

This is the second ground on which the GA-FDD based its recall order.

According to the GAFDD, in making the product as close as possible to “mother’s milk”, some vegetable oils were added to the cow milk-based substance.

When digested by infants, the formula can prove to be dangerous since the fatty acids in the triglycerides produced influence their function negatively.

– PPP condemns action by Govt

O

Vendors protesting outside Parliament on Wednesday

ne day after angry vendors protested in front of City Hall and the Ministry of the Presidency against their removal from the Stabroek Market area and the lack of a smooth transition to the new proposed site on Hadfield Street, the City Council is pushing to have the location opened for vending within the next 24 hours.

On Wednesday, vendors took their cries to the front of Parliament Building during the first sitting of the National Assembly after a hiatus. Several vendors gathered outside the barricades at the Public Building to express their disapproval of how the situation is being handled.

Town Clerk Royston King stated on Wednesday that the contractors would be working assiduously to have work completed on the new site within the next 24 hours.

King, who is overseeing construction work at the proposed site, also reassured the vendors that they would be satisfied with the final results at the new location, which is situated south of the

Armed bandits rob local exporter near Police station

I

n the midst of the Guyana Police Force declaring a 19 per cent decrease in serious crimes, a popular exporter was robbed early Tuesday morning near the Ruimveldt Police Station.

Reports indicate that businessman Doodnauth, also known as “Mango man” was held at gunpoint at about 10:45h obliquely opposite the Ruimveldt Police Station.

According to the businessman, he was relieved of $2.9

million and believed that the gunmen followed him from a local city bank.

He related to Guyana Times that he and his wife went to a city bank on Robb Street and while on their way home, they stopped at a store near the Ruimveldt Police Station.

It was during this stop that the gunmen pounced on them. According to Doodnauth, he was hesitant at first to hand over his bag

but the bandits punched him and then grabbed the bag containing the cash and other important documents.

An eyewitness told this newspaper that the businessman’s wife, who is a frequent customer at the store, went into the shop and left her husband in the car.

“The female occupant of the car entered the store while the man remained in the vehicle when two men approached the car. The en-

tire scene lasted roughly 30 seconds,” the eyewitness recalled.

The two men, who were described as “tall and of African descent” then made their escape in a white Toyota car. They were both wearing striped T-shirts and short pants.

The incident was reported to the Police and an investigation was launched. However, no arrests were made up to press time.

“Nasty Man” jailed for gun, ammo possession

D

ellon “Nasty Man” Henry was on Wednesday sentenced to two years in prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

It was alleged that on October 4, 2015 at Second Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown, he had in his possession an unlicensed

.38 revolver along with six matching rounds of ammunition and two .32 live rounds of ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.

The conviction was based upon the testimony of Police Corporal Eastman, who testified that on the day in question, acting on information, law enforcement officers went to Agricola to conduct

a search and in the process saw Henry, along with a female companion, acting suspiciously.

When the officers approached them, Henry ran away, but was subsequently caught by Police. A search was conducted on his person and the items were found.

When questioned, Henry told officers that he was not the holder of a firearm li-

cence. He was arrested and charged for the offence.

Magistrate Azore said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt in handing down her verdict.

Henry is also on trial for the murder of footballer Dexter Griffith, who was gunned down on September 29, 2015 in East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Parliament Building.

The new temporary location is said to be equipped with facilities that were absent at the present location which will make vending more comfortable.

to ply their trade, the gates were secured with padlocks, prohibiting them from entering.

King had responded to this, stating that the property was privately owned and City

In a recent interview, the Town Clerk told Guyana Times that the site was expected to have proper lighting, as well as full security and sanitary facilities.

Vendors can also look forward to having compactors to deal with the garbage generated and removable, collapsible tents.

These facilities will, however, come at a price, as King had indicated that the vendors would be required to pay to maintain the site. The amount to be paid by each vendor has not been disclosed.

Hall had received permission to utilise the land, but only until construction work had been completed would it be opened for vending.

Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), in a statement to the media, condemned the actions of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, stating that it was putting up a “façade” about cleaning up the city when its objective was to “remove the vendors”.

“Operating in true military style, facilitated by civilian operatives, the APNU/ AFC Government demonstrated their anti-people, anti-poor and elitist predisposition towards a social strata, which in the face of rising unemployment and increasing economic difficulties have chosen to eke out a living – a living that has placed them in a daily and nightly struggle to make end meets,” the Party said.

The City Council was also lambasted for being stimulated by Central Government to make the decision which is contrary to the laws of Guyana which allows for vending to be done in the Stabroek Market Square from 06:00h to 18:00h.

The PPP believes that speaking to the vendors to derive a way forward on how they could earn a living wage would have been a more approachable method instead.

It maintained its position that “the vendors must be allowed to ply their trade and earn a living in an honest and law-abiding manner, as they have been doing.”

Apology

In a social media post, Deputy Mayor Sherrod Duncan expressed his apologies to the vendors for the circumstances surrounding the removal.

“I believed that we should have exerted greater efficacy on getting the proposed area ready for our vendors, who are such an important part of the character of our City.

I offer the City and affected vendors in particular my unreserved apology,” part of the post stated.

This came after vendors had lambasted City Hall for removing them without adequate plans in place to have them transitioned immediately to the new location as was promised.

During a protest on Tuesday, the vendors had voiced their anger against the decision, which they said put a halt to their livelihood.

In addition, vendors had claimed that when they turned up at the location

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thursDAY, may 5, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Barry Dataram drug trial

Magistrate yet to decide on calling TV journalist, cameraman to testify

By Kizzy Coleman

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elf-confessed drug lord, Barry Dataram, his wife Anjanie Boodnarine and two relatives, Komal Charran and Trevor Gouveia reappeared in the courtroom of Magistrate Judy Latchman on Wednesday as the trial into a drug related charge continues.

During the hearing at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit’s (CANU) Prosecutor made an application for HGPTV Nightly News anchor, Travis Chase and his cameraman to be summoned to court to testify.

This, she said is necessary since Dataram allegedly confessed to being a drug lord during a television interview.

The defendants Attorney Glenn Hanoman objected to that request asking the Magistrate to delay the re-

Barry Dataram, Anjanie Boodnarine, Komal Charran and Trevor Gouveia after making their appearance in court on Wednesday

quest before the testimony of CANU Officer Andrew Yarde.

Magistrate Latchman also asked to hear the testimony made by Andrew Yarde before considering that request. In his testimony, Yarde identified all 692 white marked enveloped as those that were confiscated from the four accused.

Depending on the evidence provided by Yarde, Latchman said that at the

next court hearing she will determine whether to oblige the prosecution’s request.

The matter is to be heard next on May 20, 2016.

The four accused are facing charges which alleged that on April 16, 2015, at Lot 661 Fourth Avenue, Block X Diamond, East Bank Demerara, they allegedly had 129.23KG of cocaine in their possession for the purpose of trafficking.

On the day in question as

was disclosed by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Telford, ranks from the Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) acting on information, entered the premises of the defendants and conducted a search in their presence.

During the search, the illegal drugs were allegedly discovered and they were all arrested and charged.

After being charged, Dataram in an interview on television spoke about a major drug network, which exists at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) where CANU Officers are involved in smuggling drugs in and out of Guyana.

He also alleged that there is massive corruption at CANU, with drug lords giving money to facilitate the elaborate lifestyle of officers at the counter-narcotics unit in exchange for information on raids and protection.

Juvenile released on self-bail … spent days in adults’ cell at Anna Regina Police Station

A

16-year-old of Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast, was on Wednesday released on selfbail on a simple larceny charge when he appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina

Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that on April 17, 2016, the teen stole two cases of empty beer bottles from Gandi Rambarran.

The teenager, who was unrepresented, told the Court that he did not

steal the empty bottles. He claimed that Police locked him up on Monday in a cell at the Anna Regina Police Station.

The Virtual Complainant then told the Court that the teenager would roam the streets of Anna Regina aimlessly.

Magistrate Scarce was surprised to learn that the

teenager was in the same cell with adults. He asked the Station Sergeant why this was done and the Police Officer responded that the teen gave a different age to the officers when he was arrested. There were no objections to bail and the juvenile was released on self-bail.

The case will continue on May 24, 2016.

Anna Regina teen fined for stealing music amplifier

E

ighteen-yearold Sunil Ramdeo of Lot 10 Anna Regina Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, was fined on Wednesday for simple

larceny when he appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

The prosecution contended that between March 30 and April 1, 2016, Ramdeo broke into Reshma Lall’s parked minibus and stole a 12-volt amplifier. He admitted to the offence and told the Court he wanted an amplifier. The Court also heard that he returned the amplifier to Lall’s mother.

After Ramdeo returned the amplifier, a report was made to the Anna Regina Police Station where he was subsequently arrested.

The unrepresented teenager told the Court he lived with his grandmother and it was the first time he had stolen anything. He admitted that he knew if he wanted something, he had to work for it. Magistrate Scarce fined the defendant $30,000.

Failure to pay the fine will result in an 18-month prison sentence.

Eyew tness Hopscotching...

A

...for pelf and power

t the Labour Day get-together – which was billed as a “love fest” because the two Labour factions would be marching to the National Park hand in hand after decades – Prime Minister Nagamootoo struck a discordant note. Even as he swayed like Michael Jackson breathlessly crooning “We are the world”, his upraised hands clutching the labourites’ belting out “Solidarity Forever”, he just couldn’t help himself.

Komal Chand, his old comrade from his PPP days, reminded Nagamootoo – who was representing Prezzie, so he had more outriders than usual – that he and his Government had abandoned the “collective bargaining” approach that any self-respecting working-class Government utilises with the trade union movement.

Chand also reminded him how Wales’d been closed and its workers thrown into the streets without even a “sorry” from the Minister of Agriculture. Nagamootoo allowed all that to roll off his back.

However, when Lincoln Lewis made the same point about “collective bargaining”, Nagamootoo snidely carped that Lewis was stuck like a broken record and was senile. “I know he had been doing that speech for the past 20 years, so the day has come that he rocks to the motion...” Well! But what was it about Lewis’ delivery that drew this low, mean retort?

Well, Lewis placed his “collective bargaining” call within the context of how the APNU/AFC regime in general – and Nagamootoo in particular – had shafted Government workers on their promised “significant” salary increase. Lewis mocked the notion that Ministers – he didn’t call Nagamootoo’s name!! – had to get a 50% increase not to succumb to “corruption”. While Government workers got zilch!

“Give Government workers 50% and we ain’t gon tek no bribe,” Lewis shouted as he stared meaningfully at Nagamootoo. Well, Brother Bob did say “who the cap fit, let them wear it!” And man did Nagamootoo pull on that cap of “salary as bribe” real quick! The truth of the matter is Nagamootoo has stopped saying the things he’d been preaching for the last 20 years, not because he’s had an epiphany and seen the light. The sordid truth is he’s succumbed to the monthly $1.7M salary, the SUVs and the AC’d big house – not to mention jetting off into the blue yonder at the drop of the aforementioned cap!

Nothing’s changed about the “working class” Nagamootoo had written and spoke about when he was in the PPP with Dr Jagan. What has changed is Nagamootoo – who won’t even speak up when he’s been neutered.

Someone said maybe he’s gotten to like Larwah. But it wasn’t Lewis – it was an old comrade from back in the day!

...over crime alarm

Reacting to concerns that citizens are scared witless about crime, the Police said it’s all a tempest in a teacup.

“Don’t worry, be happy...crime’s down” they assured all and sundry. Well, “all and sundry” just aren’t buying it.

Even the PSC – not known recently for any radical antigovernment stance – immediately fired off a missive to Prezzie demanding he’d better intervene with this latest police resort to statistics.

This has become a regular routine with these younger officers who went to UG where they imbibed the mantra, “if you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullsh*t”!! Hey... why the heck compare last year’s firstquarter’s crime rates with this year’s? Do those numbers compare the INTENSITY of the new crimes? Do those numbers tell about the BRAZENNESS of armed gunmen attacking a casino smack next to a police station?

Was a prison riot that claimed SEVENTEEN lives and left 1000 seething hardened convicts and remand prisoners in the centre of our capital city, in those figures?

Please Mr Police statistician...go take a hike.

...over Indian Arrival

The way your Eyewitness sees it...if folks other than Indian-Guyanese wanted to observe their “arrival day”, they’d have asked for it, nuh?

Why not follow TT and bow to the inevitable?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

news

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thursday, may 5, 2016 | guyana-times.com

D'Urban Park development

Stands to be dismantled after Independence celebrations – to be distributed to community grounds

By Devina Samaroo

T

he seating arrangements at the D'Urban Park facility will be dismantled and distributed to community centre grounds across the country when the 50th Independence anniversary celebrations are over.

Stakeholders and members of the public have raised concerns over the apparent wastage of taxpayers’ monies to construct temporary bleachers at D'Urban Park, only to disassemble it after the jubilee festivities.

However, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson explained that the temporary stands

will be put to good use after the celebrations.

“They’re constructed

eratives on Wednesday.

The initiative will be spearheaded by the

The development taking place at the D'Urban Park

The intended D'Urban Park after May 2016 celebrations

like Lego so we can unscrew them and carry them to the grounds,” he told media op-

Education Ministry, which will be tasked with developing suitable criteria to determine which grounds will receive the stands.

The final development of the D'Urban Park area is to construct a state-of-the-art, world-class arena to seat 30,000 persons.

Businessman Clinton Urling is one of a large number of individuals who expressed concerns over what they termed as the poor decision to develop temporary seating facilities made of wood at D'Urban Park.

“The decision to use wood to construct a temporary facility, which will be dismantled after the Independence activities are completed, was not well thought out.

There were the issues of the time constraint to erect

the structure, the use of the building materials afterward and the cost involved for the entire construction, demolition, and disposal of the wood materials. It would have been better suited if the Government had considered the use of mobile and temporary stands for this purpose,” he posited in a letter to the editor.

Meanwhile, in providing a general update on the progress of the D'Urban Park development, the

Minister happily reported that the phase one project is now 57 per cent completed.

It is the expectation of the Government that the entire phase one project be completed in time for the imminent jubilee celebrations on May 26.

The outstanding works cover six areas which are the roofing and remedial works for spectator bleachers; completion of superstructure, walls and roof for VIP stand; electrical wiring, lighting and power supply; access driveways and bridges; creation of sanitary facilities; and drainage works.

The set deadline for competition is May 12, two weeks before Independence Day. The D'Urban Park arena is expected to accommodate over 28,000 individuals as opposed to the National Stadium which can accommodate 16,000.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, may 5, 2016

News

$10.5M aircraft parking ramp commissioned at Ogle Airport

The $10.5 million Aircraft Parking Ramp

By Devina Samaroo

T

he Ogle International Airport (OAI) has invested some $10.5 million into the construction of a new aircraft parking ramp for small aircraft operators that do not have access to permanent hangar facilities.

The parking facility is located near the Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Services (CAMS) Hangar.

During the simple

launching ceremony on Wednesday, CAMS Chief Executive Officer Anthony Mekdeci explained that the small operators were accustomed to parking their aircraft at other private facilities.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, who was present during the ceremony, lauded the Airport for yet another achievement.

“This is a good initiative, hopefully it will encourage

them to keep performing,” he stated.

The aircraft ramp can accommodate a maximum of 10 light aircraft weighing a maximum of 11,363 kilograms (25,000 pounds).

The ramp has been constructed approximately 500 feet away from the Airport’s main runway and has direct ramp access to the main taxiway to the runway.

The facility is fully equipped with electricity and water supply.

thursDay, may 5, 2016

guyana-times.com

11

News

Women farmers in Hague: trailblazers in a man’s world stead of using tractors to plough the field in preparation for another crop, farmers would deploy bulls onto the land to till it for cultivation.

“I used to go run around with the bulls,” Rajkumarie gleefully interjected. The workmen would then use handheld tools, like the hoe and rake, to further toss the

By Devina Samaroo

“F

emales aren’t fit to be farmers”.

Murmur those words in the village of Hague, on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) and almost all of the women will erupt with ferocity.

The women of this village are just a microcosm of the strength and perseverance demonstrated by Indian women in Guyana, since the days of indentureship.

Driving tractors and ploughing the fields, coupled with the daily struggles of juggling the children and the housework, it’s no wonder these women are deemed trail blazers in a man’s world.

Forty-one-year-old Rajkumarie Jeewan grew up on the farmlands, admiring her father working in the fields.

Today, she is a successful farmer and entrepreneur in her own right, but the rice industry she and her family knew as children has drastically transformed.

“Everything is so modern now. I am accustomed to it because I grew up in it but what we do now is really different from when I was a little girl,” Rajkumarie told <<<Guyana Times>>> at her home in Hague.

With Rajkumarie preparing a meal of chowmein, her husband was leaving for work and her mother-inlaw was rocking in the hammock.

“It’s different but the work got easier. I only go and assist in the fields now to throw fertilisers and help pull up the paddy. We get labourers that does do most of the stuff now,” she stated.

Her direct involvement in the rice business decreased minimally following the birth of her three children, who are now ages 18, 21, and 22.

While much of her at-

briefly acknowledged that uniqueness of her generation where everything was done using manual labour.

Yes, bare hands were utilised to clear the dozens of acres of rice fields in the absence of a combine harvester – a machine that reaps, threshes, and cleans a cereal crop in a single operation.

After the crops are har-

Rajkumarie Jeewan along with Bashantee Persaud striking a pose in front of a tractor parked aback her yard

tention was focused on taking care of her children, Rajkumarie still spent time in the rice fields assisting her husband.

“It builds our relationship stronger. You understand your partner more when you work together.

You don’t really get into fights. You could fight in the fields and shy mud at each other but that’s it. Soft mud, nothing else,” she chuckled as she reminisced on some of the good times with her husband.

Sixty-eight-year-old Bashantee Persaud, her neighbour, came over to visit sometime around this moment.

She too grew up in the farmlands and loved every moment of it.

“It’s all I know. It’s all most of us know. We live in it, we enjoy it. It’s a peaceful life,” Bashantee said as she breathed a sigh of satisfaction. Her younger days were nothing short of hectic. With five girl children and one boy, Bashantee was busy like a bee on most days.

“I don’t know how I used to manage. I woke up at three ‘o’ clock, I cook, my husband used to cut cane so he used to leave like around five ‘o’ clock and then I had to start in the rice fields. I would go and milk the cows and do lil other fine, fine stuff and by time daybreak, I feed the fowl and get the

children ready for school.

So when they gone, you got your normal house work to do,” she described a typical day during her earlier years of motherhood.

Modernisation Both ladies attested to the fact that the industry has radically transformed over the years, bringing with it pros and cons.

In the olden days, in-

A combine harvester parked on vast rice lands in Hague

soil.

Rajkumarie’s mother-inlaw, who was rocking away in silence, piped up and

vested, they would be packaged and sold to the millers.

Of course, there are tons of problems relating to the

prices for paddy and the delayed payments from rice millers.

While the advancement in technology has definitely improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the work, it has certainly made the cost of production more expensive.

Farmers who cannot afford to purchase their own machinery will have to rent; those who are owners will have to factor in maintenance expenses and repair costs.

According to the women, one cannot depend solely on the incomes from the paddy cultivation; one needs a “side job”.

Questioned on whether or not it was strange for women to be involved on a male dominated platform, the women declared, “Not at all. Man and lady does work the same. Not in Hague. All we women are farmers.”

12 news

thursDay, may 5, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Crime rate eroding investors’ confidence – PSC ... requests meeting with President

T

he Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Tuesday dispatched a letter to President David Granger expressing its concerns with the current crime situation that has shrouded the country, which it says

the Government hopes to attract the Diaspora and other visitors to join in celebrations of the country’s Golden Jubilee of Independence in the month of May. “This situation is also steadily eroding investor con-

“We firmly believe that the citizens of this country can no longer live in fear of their lives and a more aggressive strategy is needed to curb the high profile crimes which are headlined daily.” is eroding investors’ confidence.

The letter was dispatched the same day the Guyana Police Force (GPF) boasted that there has been a 19 per cent decrease in the country’s crime rate.

The letter, penned by the PSC Chairman Norman McLean, a former Army Chief-of-Staff, stated that the Commission and other members of the business community were “deeply disturbed” at the prevailing crime situation, especially as

fidence,” the PSC said. The PSC said that it met twice with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and with Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, but to no avail.

“We firmly believe that the citizens of this country can no longer live in fear of their lives and a more aggressive strategy is needed to curb the high profile crimes which are headlined daily,” the strongly-worded letter stated.

The PSC said it is cog-

nisant the crime situation is not a recent phenomenon and also recognised that the ability of the Police Force to solve crimes has improved.

“We are, however, of the view that we are in dire need of an approach which is focused on the prevention of crime and that this approach must be communicated widely. We are therefore seeking an urgent audience with you,” McLean’s letter stated.

Last Thursday, the Central Corentyne and Berbice Chambers of Commerce in a statement expressed frustration over the crime situation in Berbice and by extension, the country, declaring that the Government seems “powerless, ineffectual, and out of (its) league” in addressing crime.

The two chambers criticised Minister Ramjattan for saying that he was unable to meet them until after the jubilee celebrations as he was “extremely busy”.

It said that members were angered by this response and

PSC Chairman Norman McLean

found it insulting.

The two business umbrella bodies said they were extremely disappointed, especially as the coalition campaigned very strongly its ability to tackle crime, creating some level of optimism, particularly with the large number of military, ex-commissioners and other `experts’ at the Government’s disposal.

“Everyone seems to be a sitting duck, as it seems every day a business is held up and residents beaten and robbed in their homes, this coupled with the depressed business environment, makes it exceedingly burdensome for businesses and ordinary citizens to cope,” the two chambers stated, adding that President Granger and the government have mis-

erably failed the people of Guyana to provide protection and security.

But, while the PSC, the rest of the business community and Guyanese at large are complaining about the high crime rate, the Guyana Police Force is contending that the public perception on the crime situation is a sheer misrepresentation and that a simple glance at the statistics will prove this.

The Force, in statistics released on Tuesday, boasted that through criminal raids three times a week, heightened Police patrols and greater presence in neighbourhoods, intensified training among Police ranks, and the resuscitation of social programmes, are all components of a crime prevention strategy, it has managed to reduce serious crimes by a whopping 19 per cent between January and April 2016, when compared to the same period for 2015.

The GPF said there was a nine per cent reduction in murder; a nine per cent decrease in gun related robberies; eight per cent decrease in armed robberies where other instruments other than a gun were used by perpetrators; 38 per cent decrease in robberies with violence; 38 per cent decrease in robberies with aggravation; 18 per cent decrease in rape and 22 per cent decrease in break and enter and larceny.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

According to the Police, this represents a 32 per cent decrease against those reported in March this year.

Assistant Commander of B Division (Berbice) Ian Amsterdam, during an interview with Guyana Times also dismissed concerns raised by the local business community about the increasing crime wave in the Ancient County.

He reported that Berbice recorded 21 serious crimes, down from 34 in March, 33 in February and 41 in January.

Overlooking the fact that over six families were terrorised, robbed and in some instances killed within a space of one week in Berbice, Amsterdam said persons are peddling the wrong perception about the crime rate in the country.

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thursDay, may 5, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Descendants of indentured immigrants still face harsh conditions – GAWU … threats to their livelihoods indicated by closure of Wales and LBI estates

M

ay 5 has been officially designated as “Arrival Day” which brings into focus the arrival of immigrants to Guyana. Importantly, the day affords us the opportunity to reflect also on British colonialism, the slave system and the indentureship policy that followed it.

May 5 is generally associated with East Indian immigration and their indentureship to the then British Guiana, beginning in May 1838. Our history acknowledges that other immigrants were brought to this land.

These indentured labourers, as with the system of slavery, were brought to do the back-breaking work on the sugar plantations.

As indentured labourers, they were forced to

live in atrocious conditions, often symbolised by the cramped derelict ranges to collective living which we know as logies. An inhumane relationship existed between them and the plantocracy.

Some accounts put those who came under the indentureship system from India to be 240,000 between 1838 and 1917, quite significant for that time.

These labourers, like the slaves, were linked essentially to sugar. Their history intertwined with the history of sugar.

Today, descendants from those times are still linked to the industry with many, even in this 21st Century, still facing harsh conditions and threats to their livelihoods as presently indicated by developments regarding the Wales and

LBI Estates.

The immigrants were all mere producers of wealth for the plantocracy of the British Empire in the process of which they endured heart-rending suffering and exploitation.

Our people, all of them, should take pride in seeing Guyana today as an independent country and who are being, in spite of the many challenges, motivated by a deep interest in our all-round development to ensure dignity, decent living standards, and a sound foundation – economic and social primarily – for the generations that follows us.

On this “Arrival Day”,

we remember our forefathers and the pains they withstood as they reached out for a better life.

Several generations separate us from them. Since then, many changes have occurred that impact our way of life today.

Still though, the journey towards steady improvements in our lives, to consolidate our nationhood, to forge unity and to build a just and prosperous country continues.

In our observation of this 5th of May, let us do so confident that our aspirations will be realized. GAWU joins with all Guyanese to celebrate, once again, Arrival Day.

Guyanese should reflect on triumphs, challenges – Govt

O

n the occasion of Arrival Day 2016, the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana recognises all the people of Guyana for your resilience, fortitude and unwavering dedication to nationhood.

The peoples who came to this blessed land, many under unspeakable circumstances, have each toiled and sacrificed and endured hardship for us to have achieved as we have and for us to be, this year, celebrating 50 years as an independent, sovereign and free nation. We stand on the shoulders of those who have fought and struggled for the freedoms we now enjoy.

On Arrival Day, we celebrate the coming of our peoples to this land and we also celebrate the ‘coming

together’ of our peoples in this land. Our ancestry is diverse, our destiny is inextricably and irrevocably intertwined. We are, as our motto instructs, ‘One people, One nation with One destiny’.

From a common history of inhumane conditions, our peoples persevered and cooperated in forging a cultural mosaic into a tightly woven rainbow nation of diverse peoples with a united spirit and common destiny.

Arrival Day affords us too, an opportunity to reflect on our triumphs and challenges. On this Arrival Day, in the year of our Golden Jubilee, we reaffirm the Guyanese spirit of tolerance, inclusivity and brotherhood and a unified vision for a progressive, prosperous and cohesive Guyana for all its peoples.

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guyana-times.com

thursDay, may 5, 2016

News

Education sector CoI

Teachers oppose limiting students’ subjects at CXC

T

eachers are in disagreement with Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine’s opposition to students writing in excess of eight subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. This was re-

vealed when a report was submitted by several teachers of The Bishops’ High School to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the education sector.

“The consensus shared among teachers is that any government diktat imposing

an upper limit on the number of subjects secondary students are allowed to sit is a bridge too far. While we wholeheartedly endorse the sentiments of the Minister of Education regarding the questionable value of writing numerous subjects, we can

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

think of at least six reasons why guidance (nudge), as opposed to decree, is the more sensible strategy,” the report stated.

The report entitled, “Perspectives on Education”, which was compiled with views and suggestions from 18 teachers at the School, stated that the decision as to the number of subjects being written at the examination was a personal one which was best left to parents and their children as they were “the perfect judge of their peculiar circumstances”.

“Not all students possess the same level of academic acumen. This necessarily means that while some students might find 20 subjects a daunting pursuit, others may not. The Education Ministry does not finance the sitting of these exams, except where they are subsidised. Given the absence of direct financing, the lack of financial con-

sideration precludes a judgment on how a private citizen should spend his or her money, even when the good is publicly provided,” the teachers further opined in the submission.

The report went on to explain that often times, students pursue a large number of subjects at the CSEC examinations so as to aid in securing scholarships and other accolades.

In early April, the Education Minister had stated that he was against students writing more than eight subjects as students who write more than the required subjects lose the chance to be engaged in extra-curricular activities in most cases.

He had stated that he was a strong believer that students should have the opportunity to grow throughout their school days, being able to get involved in activities that did not all focus on academics.

These activities that the Minister was referring to were sports and music which have become somewhat dormant in the school system.

Roopnaraine had declared that he approved of students writing no more than eight subjects at one sitting, since this would be more productive and efficient. These subjects would include the elemental subjects: Mathematics, English and Science, which are the most essential when it comes to the CSEC. However, in the report, the teachers opined that plac-

ing an upper limit on how many subjects a student could pursue would not have the desired effect that the Minister hoped for, and unwanted situations may arise. “Those students who are prohibited from writing more than, say, eight subjects, can realistically sit the remainder as private candidates.” Disruptions in the working of schools – issues may include timetable allocations problems; and some teachers ending up without sufficient teaching periods” are some of the possible effects the report listed.

The teachers, therefore, provided a number of alternatives to capping the number of subjects students were allowed to write, one being the provision of guidance and counselling to both parents and students before making the decision.

“An alternative approach the Ministry may consider is the use of strategies that “nudge” parents and pupils in the desired direction.

Included among these are: provide subventions only up to the prescribed number of subjects; promote the benefits of extra-curricular activities to the student’s development; and mandate and finance a programme of activities that adds to students’ non-academic growth as a programme of this nature could conceivably limit the time available for instruction, making it impossible to teach beyond a certain number of subjects,” the report suggested.

thursDAY, may 5, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

News

Edghill sent to Privileges Committee over excessive Govt pay hike figures

A

s the National Assembly on Wednesday held the 36th sitting of the 11th Parliament, several actions were moved for three Members of Parliament (MPs) to be sent to the Privileges Committee.

The first motion heard was tabled by Government MP Charrandas Persaud for Opposition parliamentarian Juan Edghill to be sent to the Privileges Committee over inaccurate figures declared by him in relation to salary increases for Government Ministers.

In December 2015, Edghill told the National Assembly that the salary increases totalled over $200 million per year. But Persaud pointed out on Wednesday that those figures were “erroneous”. He noted that despite efforts, the former Junior Finance Minister failed and refused to withdraw his statement, as such, Persaud called for the Opposition MP to be sent to Privileges Committee. “… the members of the National Assembly believe that the erroneous words spoken, together with the subsequent action of the Honourable Member Juan Edghill, are violative of the privilege of a member of the National Assembly and of the Standing Orders of the National Assembly; and have brought the entire National Assembly into disrepute. We preserve that this House expresses its disapproval of the false statements made by the Honourble Member Juan Edghill and refers the matter to the Committee of Privileges to consider and recommend to the House an appropriate response,” the parliamentarian stated.

This motion, which was seconded by Government’s MP Jermaine Figueira, was

Opposition parliamentarian Juan Edghill

upheld by House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, who sent the matter to the Privileges Committee. “I have received that complaint and this matter will now be sent to the Committee of Privileges,” the Speaker declared.

The Speaker then turned his attention to a letter he received from Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, who asked that Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman issue an apology over statements made in relation to Guyana’s productive forests.

She is also seeking the same from Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo who repeated Trotman’s statement.

During the 2016 Budget Debates earlier this year, Trotman announced that 100 per cent or all of the country’s productive forestry was distributed under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime.

Trotman sought to defend his statement, noting that the figures he quotes in his Budget presentation were the figures submitted by the Guyana Forestry Commission on allocations of forest lands and those held in reserve.

“It was this document

that I both relied on, and quoted from, during my budget presentation on Thursday February 11, 2016, and also shared copies with members of the Opposition who demanded copies to be shared,” he stated. Trotman provided these documents to the House.

Moreover, the Natural Resources Minister outlined that contrary to reports, his comments did not affect Guyana’s relations with its Norway partners, referring to a recent correspondence from the Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment, who congratulated him for being transparent.

Furthermore, he asked that the Prime Minister be exempted from the action brought since he (PM) merely repeated a statement that was initially made by him. In fact, he said the Opposition MP instead should be sanctioned for the accusations levied against him.

“In the circumstances, I respectfully submit that neither the Honourable Prime Minister nor I, should be called on to apologise or have this spurious compliant referred to the Privileges Committee. On the contrary, I respectfully submit that the Honourable Gail Teixeira who should be sanctioned for abusing the process of the August National Assembly by bring an obviously spurious and vexatious allegation before you,” he remarked.

However, the Opposition Chief Whip pointed out that figures on the Guyana Forestry Commission’s website reflects otherwise as she reiterated calls for Trotman to be sent to the Privileges Committee.

“I am calling on you that we send Mr Trotman to the Privileges Committee based on his own utterances today

(Wednesday)… the statements that he has given here today contradicts what is on the Guyana Forestry Commission,” she posited.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nagamootoo in brief remarks opined that the minority Opposition is trying to counter one member (Edghill) being sent to Privileges Committee by al-

leging Government MPs are misguiding the House and the public.

In an effort to bring to end the back and forth exchange between Teixeira and Trotman, Dr Scotland pointed out that if Teixeira remains unconvinced by Trotman’s explanations and is still determined for him to be sent to Privilege Committee, then

she can submit her pleadings in a complaint to him; however, he added that if she is prepared to accept the documents from the Trotman then she can do so to bring an end to the matter.

Teixeira is yet to reveal her decision, that is, whether she will stand with her initial position or accept Trotman’s explanation.

16 news

thurSDAY, may 5, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Ogle Airport to be renamed despite objections by private operators

D

isregarding mounting concerns by local aircraft operators, Government has announced that it will be moving ahead with its decision to rename the Ogle International Airport (OIA); a move it said, it does not need approval for.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson on Wednesday said Government will be going ahead with the renaming of the Airport on May 9, ignoring concerns being raised by operators; that the name change will severely affect the competitiveness of the playing field.

Responding to questions raised by journalists at the airport, Patterson said the rebranding will certainly not affect any operation.

“Operators won’t be disadvantaged, the renaming of the airport comes with no additional charges, no additional fees, the longitude and latitude of the airport remains the same. It’s only a name,” he assured.

According to Patterson,

Ogle International Airport

Government is seeking to give identification and recognition of honourable Guyanese.

“We have six different races in this country and we have to use whatever means of recognising other persons. We can’t just simply restrict our identifications to Cheddi [Jagan] and Forbes Burnham. If all goes well, the ceremony for renaming will take place on May 9 but if there are any

other actions, we will abide by them,” he said.

Speaking also to the media, Public Communication Consultant of the Airport, Kit Nacimento related the issues surrounding the rejection of the injunction against the Airport.

“The injunction brought not by 10 operators, brought by three operators, not brought by NATA, brought by three operators. The major investors in this Airport

do not include all of those operators, only three of those operators have any investment in the building of this Airport at all”, he explained.

He continued, “Mr Gouveia for instance has almost $1 billion private investment in developing this airport, 2.2 per cent. The major investment and the major risk in developing the airport has been taken by Correia.” He said the majority of the board and share-

holder support the decision.

Meanwhile, the National Air Transport Association during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon reiterated its objection to the rebranding of the facility.

Outraged, the body, which looks after the interest of aircraft owners, flayed Government for moving ahead with a proposal made

by President David Granger to have the name changed and even threatened that legal action could be taken against Correia.

Government remains unmoved in its position to have the Airport renamed after Guyana’s first Public Transport Minister Eugene Correia and will be making the big change early next week.

NATA meeting with members of the Press, took a bitter stand against Government and the Correia Group of Companies.

Annette Arjoon-Martins of Air Service Limited (ASL) said the Airport was incorporated back in 2000 with five shareholders, each holding 20 per cent shares.

According to her, they all served as Directors of the company.

“Fifteen years later

through a series of manipulations by the Chairman, Mr Michael Correia, the Correia Group of Companies which he also heads now own 67 per cent of the shares in this company. As a result, Ogle Inc has become a member of the Correia Group of companies.”

She said of the original five founding Directors, only two were allowed to remain.

More than that, five of the seven Directors of OAI currently are either family or associates of the Correia group, which now controls everything at the Airport, Arjoon-Martins said.

“It was never the intention of the five founding shareholders/Directors that one of the aircraft operators should have control at the Airport. It was also never the intention of the Government of Guyana when they signed the lease agreement with OIA in 2000 that one single operator would control the airport in 2016. It should be noted that Government had used the word “fair and equitable access” in this master lease no less than 40 times.”

The operators believe that adding the Correia name to the Airport could give the representing the private operators who had expressed worry over the name change. It was the President who had suggested the name change just after taking office.

Last year when the issue first surfaced, President Granger met with a group That proposal met strong objections from most of the airline operators who work out of the Ogle Airport.

They pointed to the fact that one of the airlines at Ogle, Trans Guyana, is owned by the Correia Group and that group’s owner is already the Chairman of the Airport.

17

news

thursDAY, may 5, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Mon Repos Market closes for renovation – vendors decry slow pace of works

T

he Mon Repos Market has been closed to facilitate renovations for one week but vendors have expressed displeasure

vendors were relocated to an area opposite the market.

According to construction workers at the site, the market was closed since Monday

Works ongoing at the Mon Repos Market

at the pace at which the works are ongoing.

Guyana Times visited the area on Wednesday and

to facilitate repairs. These workers indicated that the market will be reopening to the merchants in time for

WBD accident victim identified

T

he man who was pulled from a canal along the Schoonord/ New Road on the West Bank of Demerara, on Tuesday evening has been identified as 32-year-old Naresh Kumar of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

The father of one was killed at about 21:00h after he lost control of the car he was driving and ended up in a canal along the Parfaite Harmonie access road.

According to information received, Kumar was heading home when he reportedly swerved from a hole in the middle of the road. As

a result, he lost control of the vehicle which plunged into the canal. The vehicle reportedly landed with its wheels in the air.

Guyana Times was told that persons who rushed to assist Kumar heard screams but there was little they could have done to save his life. By the time he was pulled from the partially submerged vehicle, he took his last breath.

He was picked up and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

An investigation has been launched into the accident.

the new week.

However, several vendors told this publication that not only were they given short notice by the Chairman of the Mon Repos Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) but no conveniences were put in place for them at the temporary location.

“He come Thursday and tell we. We don’t work Friday. Them ain’t even come and she yall could go over deh fuh sell or give we any place. Nothing. Half ah the market vendors ain’t come out for the week yet.

Is money we losing budday,” an irritated vendor told this newspaper.

Another vendor pointed out that even though there were no proper facilities provided for him to sell, he has to continue paying his daily rent.

He said when he inquired as to what he was paying for, the head of the market office refused to acknowledge his question.

Relocated vendors opposite the Mon Repos Market

“They put we out the market, we still gat to pay.

Why? You tell me wah we paying for? When I ask the head woman up in the market office, she pretend she ain’t hear or something.

They throwing we off bad hay man.’’

Other vendors highlighted that even though they were told that the market would be fully rehabilitated within a weeks’ time, no significant repairs has been done as yet and its already the third day of work. They insisted that their time and money were being wasted as they remained skeptical

about the deadline.

“Look at this market condition? They saying they doing repairs. What repairs?

Check in deh and tell me if you see anything proper done yet. This is done the third day of the week,” another vendor related.

Angry vendors told Guyana Times that they are never included in the market related meetings and that the market office staff and the NDC held a reputation for an autocratic management style.

“They don’t tell we when they doing anything. No meeting for we to voice our

opinions. Is nah them alone in this thing. They does just come and lay down the law and we have to comply with it.’’

Another vendor added that “We gotta comply with them but if we wanna repair a lock self in we stall, we ga send them a letter and they gon take months fuh reply to we.

This is unfair to we man.

Is we money we spending and we cant do nothing.’’

When this publication went to the Market Office to enquire, the doors were locked and no one was available.

18 NEWS

thursday, May 5, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Region 2 RDC calls for urgent US inviting intervention on erosion entrepreneurs to

I

n a recent walkabout at Cullen, Region Two Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Chairman and Councillors interacted with residents who are deeply concerned about the rapid erosion along the community’s beach.

The residents most of whom rely on fishing as a source of income explained that relocation to other areas will pose a challenge since they have been doing fishing as an economic activity for several years now.

They noted that urgent intervention was needed by Government to save approximately 30 houses that were under threat. Crops and livestock are constantly being affected since salt water would wash up into the community.

Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt committed to make representation to the Ministry of Public

YLAI Programme

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt interacting with affected residents

Infrastructure for timely actions to be taken since residents from Cullen to Perseverance are in a dangerous posi-

tion owing to rapid erosion. The Abram Zuil Secondary School is also under threat.

Miner arrested with unlicensed firearm

A

miner is now in Police custody and is expected to be charged shortly with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

According to informa-

tion received, the man was arrested on Tuesday at Arangoy Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) with an unlicensed .38 revolver and four matching rounds of am-

munition.

Based on reports, the miner was involved in an argument with another man during which he pulled out the firearm and threatened to shoot him. The man how-

ever managed to take away the firearm and subsequently handed it over to the Police. The suspect was also apprehended and handed over to the Police. He is assisting with investigations.

T

he United States Embassy in Guyana is inviting young local entrepreneurs to participate in its Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Professional Fellows Programme later this year.

The YLAI Programme is an initiative sponsored by the US Department of State.

It brings together some 250 young entrepreneurs from Latin America and the Caribbean in the United States for business and social entrepreneurship training to be held in October and November 2016.

The YLAI Professional Fellows will become part of the larger YLAI Network, an online space to obtain resources and make regional connections necessary to foster positive change in their local communities.

The US sponsored programme features an opening programme in Texas and closing summit in Washington, DC featuring workshops, breakout sessions, and keynote speakers.

Participants will be involved in a four-week individualised fellowship with counterpart companies or organisations in cities around the US. The participants will also engage in skills-building workshops, develop or refine their own strategic plan, and partake in dayto-day operations at US organisations. They will also participate in professional development activities, in-

cluding entrepreneurship training and interaction with experts; and ongoing support before, during, and after the YLAI Fellowship through networking, mentorship, and investment opportunities.

In order to qualify to be part of the programme, applicants must be between the ages of 21 and 35, a resident of Guyana, eligible to receive a US J-1 visa, have at least two years of entrepreneurial/leadership experience, preferably with a start-up business or social venture, and proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English.

More information about how to apply for the YLAI fellowship and how to sign up for the YLAI Network can be found on its website at https://ylai.state.gov/ Closing date for submission of applications is Friday, May 20.

The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative programme builds upon the success of the inaugural YLAI entrepreneurs’ project in March 2016. The YLAI Professional Fellows Programme is supported in its implementation

by Meridian International Centre, a proud partner with Atlas Corps, Entrepreneurs’ Organisation, and community-based members and universities throughout the United States. For further information, please contact the Meridian programme team at YLAI@meridian.org.

Wakenaam farmer remanded on drug charge

A

40-year-old cash crop farmer of Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), was on Wednesday remanded to prison for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Rishi Ramnarine appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

Police alleged that on May 1, 2016, Ramnarine had in his possession 25 grams of marijuana, which were uncovered during a search by law enforcement.

The defendant’s Attorney-at-Law, Latchmi Dindyal, in a bail application, told the Court that

the illicit substance was not found in his client’s possession.

Police Prosecutor Rambhague objected to bail, stating that no special reason was given for Ramnarine’s pre-trial liberty to be granted.

According to the Prosecutor, Police carried out a search on the defendant and the drug was found in his right pants pocket. He was arrested and under caution, he reportedly admitted that he was a drug user.

After listening to both the prosecution and the defence, Magistrate Scarce remanded Ramnarine to prison. The case will continue on May 25, 2016.

thursDAY, may 5, 2016

Real Madrid edge Man City to Champions League Final

A

fter a goalless draw in the first leg, Real took the lead when Gareth Bale’s cross deflected off City’s Fernando.

The home side dominated, Bale’s header hitting the bar and Joe Hart saving from Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo.

City rarely threatened as Real set up a meeting with rivals Atletico Madrid in the Milan final later this month.

The English side knew they potentially only needed one away goal to progress, but appeared reluctant to go for broke in the final stages - despite being encouraged to attack by the vocal 4,500 away supporters.

The home side’s only

Part of the action in the Real Madrid V City game

real moment of concern came in the closing moments when Sergio Aguero’s speculative effort flew on to the roof of the home goal.

Now they will meet Atletico at the San Siro on 28 May, in a repeat of the 2014 final which Real won 4-1 after extra-time.

City started the sec-

ond leg knowing there would be no potentially awkward meeting with incoming manager Pep Guardiola in the final, his Bayern Munich side hav-

ing fallen in their lastfour tie against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Now Pellegrini, like his Spanish successor at Bayern, will end his three-year reign without a dream goodbye in the San Siro.

Nevertheless, the Chilean will always be remembered for taking the Blues into the Champions League knockout stage for the first time.

Pellegrini finally succeeded where predecessor Roberto Mancini failed, but City’s demanding owners will be expecting Guardiola to take their club into the latter stages as a minimum requirement.

Judging by their performance over the two

19

legs against Real, the former Barcelona coach may decide his inherited squad needs an injection of world-class talent to regularly compete with Europe’s elite.

For large periods, City lacked pace and energy against the Spanish title hopefuls - and, crucially, offered little attacking threat.

Key centre-back Vincent Kompany’s early departure through injury left them lacking defensive organisation, while Yaya Toure’s return failed to add any intensity to a midfield lacking bite in the Bernabeu.

And mustering only one shot on target in each leg was a telling statistic.

(BBCsport)

20

guyana-times.com

thursDAY, may 5, 2016

Sophia Special School Sensational Russell knocks Kings XI down to watch Guyana“O Canada football clash T he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday, distributed 100 tickets to The Sophia Special School for the upcoming international friendly football match between Guyana and Canada’s U-23 team at the National Stadium, Providence.

GFF Technical Development Officer Mr. Lyndon France, who was present, said he pleased with the development of football and the engagement with our youths. France encouraged the Sophia Special School students to partake in different sporting activities; as it helps them to socialize with their peers.

France also expressed his contentment with the partnership of sports and education in our schools and sees this as a great oppor-

Roydon Harper

tunity for the students view the football stars in action.

GFF last Friday (April 29th) also distributed 100 tickets to the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School as part of their initiative to assist in the devel-

opment of sports and sporting activities in our schools.

Roydon Harper, a student at the Sophia Special School said he is very excited to have the opportunity to witness our national stars as they take on Canada.

“I am happy I have the chance to go to the game, I love football. I thank GFF for providing us with the tickets.” said the grade 8 student.

The match between Guyana and Canada is scheduled to kick-off at 19:00h (7pm) on May 15th, 2016 at the National Stadium, Providence. The feature clash will be preceded by another exciting match-up between Christianburg/Wismar and Chase Academic Foundation at 16:00h.

ne interesting decision and everyone forgets you hit a fifty in the last game.” It seemed Glenn Maxwell was still smarting from an incorrect caught-behind decision in Kings XI Punjab’s previous game against Gujarat Lions. He couldn’t score any runs then, but on Wednesday, it was almost like he couldn’t be stopped.

Almost, because Piyush Chawla found a way, and did so at the perfect time.

Maxwell fell for 68 off 42 balls with his side still 45 runs away from a target of 165 with only 26 balls in hand. A well-populated Eden Gardens reveled in the tension. So did a bowling attack that featured six internationals. Kolkata Knight Riders closed out a victory by seven runs and climbed to the top of the table.

Andre Russell had 11

runs to defend in the final over and he did so by picking up one wicket, apart from two run-outs, to finish with 4 for 20 in four overs.

He was Knight Riders’ battering ram, but he needed Chawla to make that decisive dent. By contrast, Kings XI were reliant on one man and he had far too much to do.

Maxwell took on the challenge though. He came in with the score on 13 for 3 and his determination to contribute was apparent in the shots he played - flicks and cuts against the Knight Riders quicks, who bowled too short at him, and powerful lofts down the ground against the spinners. Essentially, Maxwell wanted to limit the risks he took. His fifty came off only 29 balls, by which time he had played only one reverse sweep.

Towards the end of his innings, the cross-batted shots kept coming out and one of them did him in.

Maxwell misread a googly from Chawla, played a reverse sweep against the turn and was adjudged lbw by umpire Anil Chaudhary.

The batsman walked off unhappy because he felt he was hit outside the line

time to understand a slow pitch.

Knight Riders fared better in that department as well. Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa struck fluent half-centuries and added 101 runs for the opening partnership. Though the run-rate they maintained was only 7.48, they laid an excellent foundation for the big-hitters down the order by punishing a bowling line-up that couldn’t get their length right.

On a sluggish pitch, short-pitched bowling allowed the batsman time to pick his spots, as Stoinis found out in the third over when Gambhir pulled a couple of fours away. It also allowed time to recover after making a mistake, as Mohit Sharma found out in the fourth over when Uthappa came forward to a back of a length delivery and was still able to drive it past point.

On top of that, Kings XI dropped Uthappa three balls after Gambhir was run-out. The culprit, Mohit, recovered well though.

He and Sandeep Sharma switched to a mix of yorkers and slower deliveries for the last five overs. That meant Yusuf Pathan and Russell

SCOREBOARD Kolkata Knight Riders innings (20 overs maximum) RV Uthappa† run out (Sharma) 70 G Gambhir* run out (Maxwell/ Sandeep Sharma) 54 YK Pathan not out 19 AD Russell run out (†Saha/ Sandeep Sharma) 16 Extras: (lb-2, w-3) 5 Total: (3 wickets; 20 overs) 164 Fall of wickets: 1-101 (Gambhir, 13.3 ov), 2-137 (Uthappa, 16.5 ov), 3-164 (Russell, 19.6 ov) Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 4-025-0 (w-3), MM Sharma 4-039-0, MP Stoinis 3-0-26-0, AR Patel 4-0-24-0, Swapnil Singh 3-0-29-0, Gurkeerat Singh 1-08-0, GJ Maxwell 1-0-11-0 Kings XI Punjab innings (target: 165 runs from 20 overs) M Vijay* c Shakib Al Hasan b Morkel 6 MP Stoinis c Chawla b Russell 0 M Vohra c Shakib Al Hasan b Russell 0

of off stump, and while replays indicated more than half the ball had been outside the line, some of his anger may have been directed at himself. He was the only Kings XI batsman who showed any kind of control and with him out of the way, Knight Riders breezed past the finish line.

The result seemed never in doubt when Russell had knocked over Marcus Stoinis and Vohra in his first two overs. Morne Morkel had M Vijay caught at mid-off in the fourth over as the Kings XI top order paid the price for not taking

WP Saha† b Chawla 24 GJ Maxwell lbw b Chawla 68 DA Miller c sub (R Sathish) b Russell 13 Gurkeerat Singh run out (sub [R Sathish]/†Uthappa) 11 AR Patel run out (Russell) 21 Swapnil Singh lbw b Russell 0 MM Sharma not out 1 1 Sandeep Sharma not out Extras: (b-4, lb-4, w-4) 12 Total: (9 wickets; 20 overs) 157 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Stoinis, 0.4 ov), 2-13 (Vohra, 2.6 ov), 3-13 (Vijay, 3.1 ov), 4-53 (Saha, 8.6 ov), 5-120 (Maxwell, 15.4 ov), 6-130 (Miller, 17.3 ov), 7-154 (Patel, 19.2 ov), 8-155 (Gurkeerat Singh, 19.3 ov), 9-156 (Swapnil Singh, 19.5 ov) Bowling: AD Russell 4-0-204 (w-1), M Morkel 4-0-271 (w-1), UT Yadav 3-0-26-0 (w-1), Shakib Al Hasan 3-021-0, PP Chawla 4-0-27-2 (w-1), GB Hogg 2-0-28-0

could not bring their powerhitting into play and Knight Riders had to settle for only 43 runs in that period.

Kings XI have dropped to the bottom of the table with six losses in eight games. They went in with only three overseas players on Wednesday - Maxwell, Stoinis and David Miller - after Shaun Marsh’s back injury ruled him out of the IPL two days ago. Hashim Amla, who was brought in as a replacement, sat out because he had arrived in India on the day of the match and had had very little time to prepare. (ESPN Cricinfo)

YELLOW PAGES thursDAY, may 5, 2016 | www.guyana-times.com

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sports

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GUYANA-TIMES.COM

thursDAY, may 5, 2016

GFF boss hails Petra Organisation as “shining light”

By Avenash Ramzan

T

he Petra Organisation has come in for high praises from president of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, who has labelled the body as a “shining light.”

Run by Co-Directors, Troy Mendonca and Marlan Cole, the Petra Organisation is one of Guyana’s most active football promotional groups, consistently staging tournaments, especially in the capital city of Georgetown.

In three short years, the organisation has racked up an impressive record, and has become a household name in local football, something that certainly did not escape the attention of Forde.

“I think I can go further to say that even in our moments of darkness in the football fraternity, the Petra Organisation

Wayne Forde

has been a shining light for many years,” the GFF head observed.

He commended the two directors for ensuring that football was being played, even at a time when the national team was inactive, and

Guyana’s football administration malpractices had warranted the installation of a FIFA Normalisation Committee.

“They have demonstrated that football is better played on the field, rather than in the boardroom, and that is the philosophy that the Guyana Football Federation, under my presidency, will pursue,” Forde emphatically stated.

The GFF president was at the time delivering feature remarks at the launch of the Petra Organisation’s latest project, the Soft Shoe tournament, on Tuesday last.

Through the tournament, the Organisation has teamed up with the Ministry of Public Health to create awareness on the issue of Gender Based Violence.

“There is this perverted notion that we need to have all the structures in place before we can play football. My time

Troy Mendonca

will come and pass and many after me, and we still will not have all the structures in place, but in the meantime we simply need to play football. Football is a sport that is not only enjoyed by the spectators, but the people who play the game,” Forde

indicated.

Forde, who was elected to head the GFF at the last Congress in November, also threw out a challenge to the Petra Organisation.

“I want to put out a challenge to the Petra Organisation to start bringing their blend of organisation to other parts of Guyana. At this stage I’ve seen most of their activities over the past couple of years centralised in Georgetown, and they’ve done a tremendous job. I would like to see them spread their wings a bit more and reach out to some of the untouched communities within Guyana, because I think there is a market there, and those issues that they’re using football as a platform to present and bring attention to do affect every corner of Guyana,” Forde explained.

Apart from the Soft Shoe, the Petra Organisation usually coordinates the Guinness

Marlan Cole

Greatest in the Streets, Courts Pee Wee, Milo Schools Under-20, Smalta Girls Under-11, GT Beer Futsal and GTT/Limacol Super 16, all of which are annual tournaments. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)

Hercules to represent GABF in Puerto Rico

T

he International Basketball Federation (FIBA) will host a three-on-three (3 on 3) Workshop in Puerto Rico from 6th to 8th May, 2016 and according to a release from the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Junior Hercules was selected as Guyana’s representative.

Upon his return to Guyana, the GABF in conjunction with Hercules, will oversee the hosting of two 3 on 3 Tournaments before November 2016. These national tournaments are for male and female players born on or after January 1, 1999.

The winning Teams will qualify for an all-expense paid trip to participate in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation 3 on 3 under-17 Championships and the coordinator will travel with the teams. Each team will comprise four players.

FIBA is promoting and funding a global three-on-three structure that will allow smaller countries to participate in the Olympics; in addition, FIBA expects the 3x3 format to have a significant impact on the development of basketball in countries that do not normally qualify to play in major international tournaments.

Junior Hercules

guyana-times.com

thursDAY, may 5, 2016

23

Powerade cycling to hit National Park Saturday

Flashback! Race Organiser Hassan Mohamed (extreme right) with the top performers of the 2015 programme

By Avenash Ramzan

B

anks DIH Limited is a major supporter of sport development in Guyana, and that trend is set to continue solidly at the weekend when the company, through its Powerade energy drink brand, renews its sponsorship of the Hassan Mohamed-organised 11-race cycling programme at the inner circuit of the National Park.

Enthused by the success the event has had during the past five years, the beverage company has agreed to invest in the programme for a sixth year, a clear indication of its commitment to the sport.

Saturday’s programme is set to pedal off at 09:00h with

the country’s up and coming riders taking centre stage in the various BMX age group races.

Young boys and girls will compete in the BMX 6-9, 9-12, 12-14, Open and BMX Boys and Girls, followed by the seasoned campaigners taking to the line to showcase their prowess.

They would compete in the Juniors/Juveniles, Veterans Under and Over-50, Mountain Bikes and the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational.

Last year’s main race was won Team Gillette Evolution’s Michael Anthony, who completed the course in a time of one hour, 15 minutes, 03 seconds (01h: 15m: 03s).

Jamal John of Team

Arm-wrestling showdown returns to 7O4 T

he highly anticipated Ultimate Arm Wrestling challenge was launched on Wednesday at a simple ceremony at the 7O4 Sports Bar at Lamaha and Albert Streets Alberttown, Georgetown.

The challenge now in its third consecutive year and titled “Ultimate Arm Wrestling III” will see some of the biggest arms and the best arm wrestling enthusiasts challenging each other for huge cash prizes and trophies on May 14 and 21 at the local home of arm-wrestling, the 7O4 Sports Bar. Speaking at the launching, the organizers told the media that they anticipate a high number of participants including a number of overseas persons also expressing eagerness to compete.

The challenge will feature an open category for females and four categories for males: 159 lbs and

under, 160-180, 181-199 and 200 and over.

Two times defending champion, Al Dowding was present at the launch and made his intentions clear about capturing the top prize for the third straight year. Meanwhile, and two times runner up, Ian Edwards said he is looking to go a step further and win the championship this year.

There will be over $500,000. in cash and other prizes to be carted off by the top performers in the various categories.

Registration has started at the 7O4 Sports Bar and interested persons are encouraged to ink their names for the challenge as early as possible.

Sponsors of the challenge are Ansa Mcal under their Heineken brand, Gizmos & Gadgets, Techpro Guyana, WebExpress, Golden Brooks Oil and Papa Pizzas.

Coco’s won the 10-lap Juveniles race in 23 minutes, 57.6 seconds (23m: 57.6s), while fellow teammate John Niles topped the five-lap Veterans Under-50 in 11 minutes, 56 seconds (11m: 56s).

With a time of seven min-

utes, 56 seconds (07m: 56s), Daniel Perreira won the 1214 Boys and Girls three-lap race, while Raynauth Jeffrey won the five-lap Mountain Bike race in 12 minutes, 57 seconds (12m: 57s).

Mohamed said he is looking forward for a large group

of riders taking to the starting line, as the event will provide the final bit of competitive action for local riders ahead of next weekend’s 34th annual Independence Three-Stage road race.

Representatives of Banks DIH Limited, including

Michael Anthony

Outdoor Events Manager, Mortimer Stewart, are expected to witness the races and assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion. (aramzan@guyanatimes-

gy.com)

thursDAY, May 5, 2016

Sports is no longer our game, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our business

Sport Awards 2016

Seated from left Director of Sport Chris Jones, Sport Minister, Nicholette Henrey and NSC Chairman Ivan Persaud with the awardees on Wednesday evening at the National Cultural Center. Also winning Sports Journalist of the Year Award award is TVG/Guyana Times Journalist Avenash Ramzan

Sophia Special School Arm-wrestling showdown to watch GuyanaCanada football clash returns to 7O4

Pg 20 GFF Marketing and Sponsorship Director Dario Mc Klinon presenting the tickets to Head Mistress of the Sophia Special School. Students and Nicholas Fraser of the Education Ministry look on

Pg 23 Two time defending champion Al Dowding and two time runner up Ian Edwards mean business even at the official launch ceremony at 7O4 Sports Bar

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